Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

Faced with the sudden problem of dividing the family property, there were also elders who refused to eat and were still angry.

Brother Li and Brother Li Er were at a loss for the moment, and Li Xiangdong was pretending to be helpless.

The three of them quickly finished their unfinished breakfasts, and then Brother Li and Brother Li Er, feeling extremely annoyed, carried their stools outside.

Li Xiangdong watched his older brothers sitting under the pomegranate tree smoking, and then he silently went into his grandparents' house.

"Who?"

Old Mr. and Old Mrs. Li sat with their backs to each other on the kang (a heated brick bed), secretly eating peach shortbread that their grandson had given them as a token of their respect.

Hearing the door open, they quickly stuffed the oil paper package containing the peach shortbread into the blanket and then hurriedly wiped their mouths.

Old Li turned around and saw that it was his grandson who had come in. He patted his chest and said urgently, "Quickly, go get me a glass of water!"

Li Xiangdong realized that his grandfather was choking, so he quickly went to the living room and poured a teacup of water.

Old Li sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), leaning against the wall. He took the teacup and gulped down several mouthfuls before finally letting out a long sigh.

Grandma Li patted her husband's chest to help him catch his breath, "Are you feeling better?"

"Okay, that's enough filming."

Old Li put his teacup on the kang (a heated brick bed), pointed to the door, and said, "You've grown a tail? Go close the door."

"Oh."

Li Xiangdong closed the door, sat back down on the kang (a heated brick bed), pointed at his grandfather's beard, and laughed, "It's not clean."

Upon hearing this, Old Man Li wiped the beard from his chin, looked at the crumbs of peach shortbread in his hand, opened his mouth, and popped them directly into his mouth.

"Your older brothers didn't notice, did they?"

Li Xiangdong shook his head. "No, the two of them are sitting in the yard thinking of a way to avoid separating the family."

Old Li chuckled, "That's just their personality; they're incredibly stubborn and simply don't want to divide the family property."

Grandma Li patted Li Xiangdong on the shoulder and said, "I told you last night not to cause trouble. Why did you bring me steamed buns? It was originally just a matter between your mother and me, but now your grandfather has been dragged into it too."

Li Xiangdong protested, "Your acting was too realistic. How was I supposed to know that you had planned this all along?"

He explained, but he was actually a little embarrassed inside.

What started as a mere squabble between Li's mother and mother-in-law turned into a full-blown war between the daughter-in-law and her in-laws after he handed her that steamed bun.

But you really can't blame him; his father and mother often argued, and he genuinely didn't notice it at the time.

Furthermore, he never expected that the four elders would bring up the topic of dividing the family property in this way.

"fine."

Old Li said it wasn't a big problem, as no one in his family would talk about their own shameful affairs.

As long as the family property is divided and some further instructions are given, Li's mother's reputation in their alley will not be affected.

"Dongzi, go outside and keep an eye on your older brother and the others. Your grandma and I will eat some more."

"Okay, I'll pour you some water first."

Li Xiangdong brought a thermos from the living room, poured water into the teacup, and then went outside.

Brother Li, who was sitting under the pomegranate tree smoking, saw him come out of the house and asked, "Have Grandpa and Grandma eaten yet?"

"They didn't eat, saying they had no appetite. Don't try to persuade them. Let the old couple have some peace and quiet."

Li Xiangdong squatted down next to them, took the cigarette from Li Erge's hand, but didn't smoke it. He just held it in his hand and twirled it around like he used to twirl a pen in class when he was in school.

"Don't give it to me, don't waste it."

Li Erge snatched the cigarette from his hand, tucked it behind his ear, scratched his head, and gave a wry smile.

"This whole mess... are we really going to have to split up the family?"

Brother Li shook his head. "I don't know. Why is it that the older I get, the bigger my temper gets?"

He looked at Li Xiangdong and said, "Your second brother and I heard what our mother said in my room just now, and your two sisters-in-law couldn't persuade her either."

Li Xiangdong thought for a moment, "My sisters-in-law haven't had breakfast yet. How about this, let our mother stay in my room for a while, and I'll try to persuade her again."

"Row."

Brother Li and Brother Li Er nodded in agreement with his suggestion.

Li Xiangdong entered the house and Zhou Yuqin pulled Li's mother into their own room. Li's mother reluctantly came from the east wing to the west wing. As soon as she entered the room, she winked at her youngest son.

Li Xiangdong laughed and said, "Mother, you don't need to pretend anymore."

Zhou Yuqin couldn't help but laugh, "Mother, I know what happened."

Upon hearing this, Li's mother immediately changed her demeanor, walking directly to the head of the kang (heated brick bed) and sitting down.

"Third brother, hurry up and get me a glass of water, I'm dying of thirst. Second brother's wife is really good at talking."

Li Xiangdong went to pour water and urged Zhou Yuqin to hurry up and eat breakfast.

He handed the teacup to Li's mother, and then took out a box of pastries from the drawer.

"Please make do with this for now."

"Wow~ Such delicious snacks, and you're telling me to just make do? Looks like you've really struck it rich now."

Li's mother was hungry early in the morning after all the fuss, and since her youngest son didn't need anything, she simply grabbed the snack box and started eating.

"Drink more water, don't choke like my grandpa did."

Has your dad eaten?

"Didn't I buy you a bag of peach shortbread before? My dad is probably secretly eating it."

"What are you sneaking around eating? Li Xiaojiang and the others have already finished that bag of peach shortbread. Hurry up and pack some snacks to take over."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

The Li family home, which should have been bustling and lively, has been filled with an eerie atmosphere since this morning.

Until the sun was high in the sky, when it was time for lunch.

Brother Li and the others tried their best to persuade him, but Old Man Li and his family still refused to come out for dinner.

The three Li brothers couldn't eat lunch in the living room, so they each served themselves lunch and went back to their own rooms to eat.

Li's mother was still in her youngest son's room, arguing with Li's father, so she couldn't go back to her own room.

"Xiaohai, your father has served you your meal. Go to your uncle's room and eat with your brothers."

"Okay, Dad."

Li Xiaohai, holding his bowl, happily walked out of the house.

Li Xiangdong watched his son push open the door and walk into his elder brother's room before closing his own door.

"Mom, you eat quickly. I'm going to Binzi's restaurant to buy some food for Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma."

"Never buy anything with a strong smell."

"understood."

Li Xiangdong, carrying a cloth bag on his back and pushing his bicycle, arrived at the restaurant where Qian Bin worked.

"Binzi, give me six sesame seed cakes, and two jin of pork head meat to put inside them."

Qian Bin poked his head out from the food counter and said with a smile, "Dongzi, you're eating so well, is there some good news at your house?"

Li Xiangdong said impatiently, "Stop talking nonsense and go cut the pig's head meat for me!"